I have a playlist on Spotify called “Christmas” that currently contains about 150 songs, from traditional choral songs to more modern Christian Christmas songs to “Fairytale of New York.” It’s quite a mix. But there are a few that stand out and get repeated play. (Please note that the linked videos for each song are on YouTube and belong to the respective channel owner. This may take you away from the Substack website or app, and you do so at your own risk.)

Maria, did you know?

In the early 2000s, my father began collecting a series of DVDs by an American couple named Bill and Gloria Gaither. They had brought together old Southern gospel singers and groups as a reunion and it had been very successful, so they continued to produce more DVDs and tour. The Homecoming Tours continue to this day, even though many of the original singers have passed away. In addition to the singing there was some comedy, mainly from Bill and a man called Mark Lowry. Mark is also a singer and was part of Bill’s group at the time, the Gaither Vocal Band. Years earlier, Mark had written the lyrics to “Mary, Did You Know?” He had passed it on to Buddy Green, who was also part of the Homecoming Tour and wrote the music. The song has been recorded by many different people and is slowly but surely creeping into the mainstream. I first heard it on a Kathy Mattea album, but my favorite version is Hayley Westenra’s. However, I love the version recorded by Mark and the Vocal Band as he sings it with the emphasis in the places he intended when writing it.

Maybe this Christmas

I shared this here on Substack a few weeks ago. Harriet was one of the five artists I listened to most this year on my Spotify Wrapped. I love this song.

I believe in Santa’s cause

This song means the beginning of Christmas for me. It is the first song on The Statler Brothers’ album “Christmas Card”. Mam played this around September and still does! I love the lyrics to this song and I love that it just feels like Christmas!

Listen! The herald angels sing/O little town of Bethlehem/O holy night!

These three Christmas songs are my father, mother and sister’s favorite songs. I have versions of the first two that I saved from the Northern Sinfonia Chorus in 2009 when I was a member of the choir. My only claim to fame is that my name is in the liner notes of the CD. O Holy Night is a version of Jewel, but I also have the version of Home Alone saved in the playlist. All three Christmas songs are brilliant Christmas songs with fantastic melodies and lyrics.

Christmas in heaven

This is a pretty new song for me. In July of this year, a family singing as part of the Gaither Homecoming Tour was traveling to Alaska for the tour when their plane crashed, killing all but the youngest daughter, who was traveling separately. Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, daughter Amber Nelon Thompson Kistler and her husband Nathan Kistler, her assistant Melodi Hodges, and the pilot and his wife Larry and Melissa Haynie also died in the crash. The youngest daughter, Autumn Nelon Streetman, traveled separately, possibly due to her pregnancy. She just gave birth to a healthy baby boy in early December. This song by The Nelons was recorded a few years ago, but perhaps has a little more poignancy given this year’s events.

Christmas 1915

This song is about the Christmas truce during the First World War. I love songs that tell a story (I think that comes from my country music upbringing!) and this one is a pretty sad song. For me it’s the contrast between the normal young men who just wanted to be home with their families and do all the normal things you would do at Christmas and the war, which wasn’t really about these men; They were there to do the work that other people’s decisions forced them to do, but it was these men who paid the ultimate price.

The space in between

I think I shared this song last year. It’s one of my favorite songs because it’s about the time between Christmas and New Year, which is one of my favorite times of the year. I read about it in a book a few years ago, but I can’t remember which book it was! Whatever it was, I’m very grateful I read it because it introduced me to not just this song, but Sandra McCracken’s entire Christmas album.

So there you have it – a few of my favorite Christmas songs. I tried to pick a few lesser known ones because I like discovering new music myself. Let me know what your favorite Christmas songs are!

Until next week!

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